sohxmig



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. SGHOMIG. PEDAL ZITHBR.

No. 495,759. Patented Apr. 18, 1893,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- G. SOHOMIG.

PEDAL ZIIHER.

No. 495,759. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. SOHOMIG. PEDAL ZITHBR (No Model.)

Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

v 4 SheetsSheet 4. G. SGHOMIG. PEDAL ZITHER (No Model.)

No. 495,759. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

WWJINNN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV SCHOMIG, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

PEDAL ZITHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,? 59, dated April18, 1893.

Application filed July 26, 1892. S ial No, 441,246. (No model.) Patentedin Germany June 14, 1891, No. 61,534; in France July 13, 1891, No.214,837, and in Austria-Hungary December 14, 1891,1l0. 58,712.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV SoHoMIo, mechanic, of 37 Mariahilfer Strasse,in the city of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria-I'lungary, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Pedal Zithers, (for which I havereceived Letters Patent in Austria-Hungary, dated December 14:, 1891,No. 58,712, in

- Germany, dated June let, 1891, No. 61,584, and

in France, dated July 13, 1891, No. 214,837,) of which the following isa full and clear description.

The present invention relates to a pedal zither with novel mechanism bymeans of which each of the accompaniment strings can be given a halfnote higher tone; for instance,

by operating the first pedal, all the G sharp pedal zithers hithertoknown are overcome.

Figures 1 and 1 represent the improved zither partly in elevation,partly in section Figs. 3 and Figs. 4, 4c, 5, 5" and 6 are Figs. 2 and 2are cross sections. 3 are top views. details of the device.

As will be evident from Figs. 1 and 2 the plate t. of the table is anessential feature of the entire arrangement and can form the bottom ofthe instrument, whereas the strings can be arranged in the customarymanner.

On that side of the instrument where the tuning pegs are located, and ata distance from the bridge corresponding to half a tone, the upper endsor heads (Fig. 3) of the tone raising pegs or pins e protrude verticallythrough the instrument, to the strings, but so that the same can freelyvibrate when they are played. The lower ends of the pins or pegs e reston the cross bars g attached to the ends of the levers h, the oppositeends of the latter being connected to the pedals p, p, 19 &c., byconnecting rods 00, said pedals being held up by means of appropriatesprings f The pedals are arranged at the rear end on a fulcrum, and atthe other are so attached to the connecting rods 0, that when saidpedals are operated the levers It will be depressed and the crossbar-s qwith the pins or pegs e raised so that the heads of the latter arepressed against the strings.

It will be evident that in this device, the raising pegs 8 (Sheet 1)must be of varying length, as the cross bars (1 or levers h aresuperposed, and consequently lie at difierent distances from thestrings,but equidistant from each other. The raising pins or pegs 6 canhowever be made of like length when the same are, instead of havingtheirbearings on the cross-bars q or levers h, arranged to bear on the upperledges f of parallelograms which can move the pegs b upward, and are inso far movable as the lateral members f f are adjusted at an anglebetween the upper ledge f, and the stationary ledge f and are soconnected to the same that the upper ledge f of the parallelogram willwhen the lateral members f f are caused to approach the vertical plane,be lifted and the raising pegs or pins Z) simultaneously pressed againstthe strings, said movement being effected by push or pull. In thepresent case a pull is used for which purpose shafts g Figs. 1 and 2with tappets are arranged between the pedals e andthe parallelogramspreferably vertically one above the other, and each of which isconnectedto a cord, chain, wire or thelike running from one of the pedalsoversuitable rollers 9' (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) or connected to the bellcrank levers r (Fig. 4 or to one or more parallelograms, so that bydepressing the lever the parallelogram or parallelograms are caused toapproach the form of a right angle so that the pins or pegs b areraised. Each of the tappets is connected on the one hand to only one ofthe pedals on the other hand to two or more parallelograms representingwith their pins or pegs b a certain system. The parallelograms arearranged on wedges h which are preferably arranged to be operated bymeans of screws 1', so that the pins or pegs Z2 can be exactly adjustedto the correct distance from the strings. It is evident that in thisarrangement the levers h and cross-bars q are omitted. The pedals arearranged for each foot of the player, preferably six, and

stepwise, with a fixed pedal or step p or e between each three pedalsserving as foot rest, and also for readily finding the pedals during theplaying. Each pedal operates at least two raising pins or pegs, so thatthe one will raise all the ds to dfl, all the fs to fit, all the gfis toa, all the dfis to e and so on. The main pedal P or e serves forsimultaneously raising all the strings and is so coupled to the otherpedals or tappet shafts g that when the same is depressed all the otherpedals or tappet shafts are operated.

For essentially increasing the tone of the raised strings, a bridge 8(Figs. 1 to 6) can be so arranged above the said strings that the latterare pressed against the bridge when the pins or pegs are raised. In thiscase the bridge is arranged at a point denoting exactly half a tonehigher and the entire number of raising pins or pegs between the customary bridge and the bridge 8 near the latter, so that the shorteningof the strings is effected by the bridge. The pins 1), Fig. 1, areguided by the hollow block or member a,which is set into an openingformed in the sounding board. This hollow block contains the springs 0about the pins which serve to return them to normal position.

Having now particularly described and ascertained thenature of thisinvention and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declarethat what I claim is- 1. In combination the zither having the bridge andthe strings resting thereon, the pins operating from below the stringsto press upwardly thereon when moved, the supporting means for thezither and pins, thepedals and the lever connections between the sameand the pins for forcing them up against the strings, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination the zither having an opening in its sounding board,the hollow block set in said opening, the pins guided in said block andmovable toward and from the strings, the springs for said pins, and theconnections for operating the pins, substantially as described.

3. In combination the zither having an opening in its sounding board,the pins movable to and from the strings, the means for operating thepins and the guiding means extending up into the opening in the soundingboard, substantially as described.

4. In combination the zither, the pins movable toward and from thestrings thereof, the means for operating the pins and with which saidpins engage, the said operating means being adjustable to regulate thedistance between the ends of the pins and the strings, substantially asdescribed.

5. In combination the zither, the pins movable to and from the stringsthereof and the operating means consisting of the parallelo gramcomprising the piecesfif', and the connecting links f f the means foroperating said parallelogram and the wedge for adj usting the same,substantially as described.

.6. In combination the zither, the pins movable to and from the stringsthereof, the means for moving said pins comprising the pedal levers, therock shafts g having tappets and the connections between the same andthe pins, substantially as described.

7. In combination the zither, the pins movable to and from the stringsthereof the means for operating said pins including the series ofmovable pedals, and the stationary dumb pedals between said movablepedals, substantially as described.

8. In combination the zither, the pins movable to and from the stringsthereof, the means for operating the pins comprising a series of pedallevers arranged to be operated independently and the main pedal leverarranged to depress all the independent pedal levers simultaneously,substantially as described.

9. In combination the zither, the pins movable to and from the stringsthereof, the means for operating the said pins and the bridge arrangedover the strings adjacent to the pins, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

GUSTAV SOHOMIG. Witnesses:

W. B. MURPHY, VIo'roR BUZHLEN.

